PUNE: The students of various universities and colleges, especially, law and social science courses, will now find it easier to study the psyche of criminals.  Except for the subject that is objectionable to the prison department, research can be carried out for other matters. This permission will be given subject to certain conditions. Additional Director General of Police Amitabh Gupta has also ordered to allow maximum 35 students of colleges to visit the jail for educational reasons.

These visits will increase the knowledge of the students. Moreover, they will glean information about myriad reforms and rehabilitation activities of the incarcerated. 

The students of social work subjects will avail a hands-on knowledge within the academic curriculum due to these field visits. As a part of the curriculum, the students of law colleges will benefit through these field visits and enhance their theoretical as well as practical knowledge.  They can use this visit in the future during their legal profession to provide legal assistance to the inmates.

Also, through this research, the problem of inmates, a study of their mental condition etc. can be assessed due to which the researchers will get knowledge of a new subject. 

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health, and Sassoon General Hospital Pune will also conduct research studies on the incarcerated.  

A detailed study on the challenges faced by prisoners in Maharashtra, especially, their emotional and mental health, will be conducted in coordination with the Maharashtra Prisons Department.